Supplement compartment for beverage container

ABSTRACT

A dispensing cap for a container with a top opening, and a method of dispensing a supplement into a container are disclosed. The dispensing cap may include a chamber and a plunger disposed therein. A floor of the chamber may have a weakness in a predetermined location. The dispensing cap may be mated with the top opening of the container, and the plunger may be used to pierce the floor, forming an opening at the weakness. The supplement may pass through the opening into the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), to U.S.provisional patent application 60/941,122, filed on May 31, 2007, thecontents of the entirety of which are incorporated by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to supplement containing and dispensing systems.It is particularly directed to a dispensing cap having a compartmentthat may be associated with a liquid container, and that is to containsupplements for ingestion with water or other beverage.

BACKGROUND

Conventional beverage container and dispenser systems associated withcompartments may be used with beverage supplements, such as a flavoring,an electrolyte, a vitamin, and a nutritional, mineral or medicinaladditive. Dispenser systems are useful, particularly for ingredientsthat have a shortened shelf-life when mixed with a liquid. The dry orpowdered ingredient may be stored in a compartment, and dispensed intothe beverage immediately prior to consumption.

Conventional dispenser systems may include different features. Forexample, a two-piece sealed capsule that is inserted into a liquidbearing container wall or neck of a bottle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,886,686 to Anderson. A cylindrical body includes a sealed bottomintegrally formed with the cylinder through a weakened wall area whichdefines the perimeter of the bottom of the body. A plunger tube isintegrally formed with the bottom of the sealed body, and may beactivated by manually depressing the top of the capsule, and rippingaway the bottom of the cylindrical body, thus dispensing the materialcontained therein.

The Anderson plunger tube may be difficult to manufacture, particularlyin forming the integral tube and cylinder floor. In addition, becausethe capsule is inserted into the neck of the bottle, the system may notbe used successfully with a full container of liquid.

Another cap for a container, wherein two components of a drink may bestored separately, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,884 to Coory. Thecap includes a collar secured to the container and a two-part top. Withthe top in the open position, a basket between the top and the liquidholds the powdered component of the drink. The top is closed to releasethe seal between the liquid and the powder, the drink is shaken, and thetop is reopened for consumption of the beverage. The cap disclosed inCoory requires an additional cover, releasable secured over the cap, toprevent the top from being closed accidentally and releasing the sealprematurely.

A need exists for a supplement containing and dispensing system that isconfigured to temporarily associate a supplement with a beveragecontainer. A system that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, andusable with a number of different conventional beverage containers isparticularly desirable.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Described herein is a dispensing cap for a container with a top opening,the dispensing cap comprising: a body having a wall with an insidefacing surface and a floor at least partially defining a chamber, thefloor having at least one weakness therein; a plunger disposed withinthe chamber and having distal edges in contact with the inside facingsurface of the wall of the chamber; and a mounting structure separatedfrom the chamber by the chamber floor, and configured to engage with thetop opening of the container. The plunger may comprise a piston and acover, and the inside facing surface of the wall of the chamber mayinclude channels configured to engage with the distal edges of theplunger. The cover of the plunger may include a central, substantiallycircular protrusion for engaging with the piston, and the cover of theplunger may be removable from the chamber.

The weakness of the floor may comprise at least two intersecting linesof weakness, and the plunger may include a piston having fourorthogonally disposed walls. The piston may be disposed within thechamber such that the walls of the plunger are offset from the at leasttwo intersecting lines of weakness.

The mounting structure may be configured to be disposed within the topopening of the container, or may be configured to engage threadedly withthe top opening of the container.

The chamber may include an inwardly protruding stop, which may beannular, and configured to engage with the plunger.

Another embodiment of a dispensing cap for a container with a topopening comprises a body configured to engage with the top opening ofthe container and having a wall with an inside facing surface and afloor at least partially defining a chamber, the floor having at leasttwo intersecting lines of weakness therein; and a plunger disposedwithin the chamber.

The plunger may comprise a cover and a piston having four orthogonallydisposed walls, and the inside facing surface of the wall of the chambermay include channels configured to engage with distal edges of the wallsof the piston. The piston may be disposed within the chamber such thatthe walls of the plunger are offset from the at least two intersectinglines of weakness.

The chamber may include an inwardly protruding stop that is annular, andis configured to engage with the plunger.

Also disclosed herein is a dispensing system, comprising: a containerwith a top opening, a dispensing cap mounted on the container, thedispensing cap comprising: a body having a wall with an inside facingsurface and a floor at least partially defining a chamber, the floorhaving at least one weakness therein; a plunger disposed within thechamber and having distal edges in contact with the inside facingsurface of the wall of the chamber; and a mounting structure separatedfrom the chamber by the chamber floor and configured to engage with thetop opening of the container; and a supplement disposed within thechamber of the dispensing cap. The inside facing walls of the chambermay include channels configured to engage with the distal edges of theplunger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a one embodiment of a dispensing capincluding features of the invention;

FIG. 1B depicts the dispensing cap of FIG. 1 associated with a beveragecontainer;

FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of the dispensing cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the chamber of the dispensing cap ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a close-up view of an annular stop of the dispensing cap ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3C is a close-up view of another annular stop of the dispensing capof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the piston of the plunger of thedispensing cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cover of the plunger of thedispensing cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of another embodiment of a dispensingcap including features of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates another view of the dispensing cap of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of adispensing cap including features of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of still another embodiment ofa dispensing cap of the invention;

FIG. 10 depicts the dispensing cap of FIG. 9 with the plunger in thedepressed position; and

FIG. 11 depicts a cross-sectional view of the dispensing cap of FIG. 9.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A depicts an exemplary embodiment of a dispensing cap includingaspects of the invention. As illustrated, the dispensing cap 10 includesa body 20 with a mounting structure 30, and a plunger 70. As shown inFIG. 1B, the body 20 has a storage compartment 24 therein. The storagecompartment 24 enables temporary storage of a supplement 50 for use inconjunction with a beverage 60 in a beverage container 65. Thesupplement 50 may be in any form such as, for example, a granule orpowder, a tablet or pill, or a paste, liquid or syrup. The supplement 50may be applied to the beverage 60 as an additive prior to the beveragebeing imbibed. The supplement 50 may comprise one or more of, forexample, a flavoring, an electrolyte, a vitamin, and a nutritional,mineral or medicinal additive.

The dispensing cap 10 may be matingly engaged with the beveragecontainer 65. The mounting structure 30 may be received by an opening 67of the beverage container 65. The mounting structure 30 may be acylindrical channel sized and shaped to fit within the opening of aconventional beverage container. The supplement 50 may pass through thechannel 33 of the mounting structure 30 into the beverage 60. Thediameter of the mounting structure 30 may be smaller than the diameterof the body 20, enabling the mounting structure to fit within theopening of the beverage container 65, with the body 20 positionedoutside of the beverage container 65.

Turning to FIG. 2, a cut-away perspective view of the dispensing cap 10,the body 20 may be substantially cylindrical, and include a wall 23having an inside facing surface 27 and an outside facing surface 28. Theinside facing surface 27 may partially define the storage compartment24. The body 20 may include an intermediate floor 25 connecting the wall23 and the mounting structure 30. The intermediate floor 25 may befunnel-shaped to enable the supplement 50 to enter the mountingstructure 30 with the aid of gravity. Support walls 40 may extendradially from the intermediate floor 25 to provide a flat supportsurface 45 when the dispensing cap 10 is placed on a beverage container.The flat support surface 45 may seat against a rim 62 of the beveragecontainer 65 (FIG. 1B). The dispensing cap 10 illustrated in FIG. 1includes four support walls 40, however a dispensing cap including anynumber of support walls is within the scope of the invention. Adispensing cap including a body wall having an outside facing surfaceextending to the edge of the flat support surface is also within thescope of the invention.

A dispensing cap having no support walls is also within the scope of theinvention. In use, a dispensing cap having no support walls may bematingly engaged with the beverage container 65. The mounting structure30 may be received within the opening 67 of the beverage container 65,and the outside facing surface of the funnel-shaped intermediate floor25 may provide an annular seal with the rim 62 of the beverage container65. The funnel-shaped intermediate floor 25 may be desirable with abeverage container having an opening with a relatively smallcross-sectional area, with respect to the cross-sectional area of thestorage compartment. Dispensing caps configured for use with beveragecontainers having relatively large openings, and an opening with across-sectional area substantially similar to the cross-sectional areaof the storage compartment, may not include a funnel-shaped intermediatefloor, as described hereinbelow with respect to FIGS. 6 through 11.

Returning to FIG. 2, the plunger 70 may comprise a cover 75 and a piston80 positioned within the storage compartment. The supplement 50 may besealed within the storage compartment 24, between the inside facingsurface 27 of the body 20, the plunger cover 75, the intermediate floor25 and a floor 35 of the storage compartment 24. The piston 80 maycomprise four orthogonally disposed walls 82. Each wall 82 may tapertoward a central point 84 near the floor 35 of the storage compartment24. Each wall 82 has a distal edge 81 in contact with the inside facingsurface 27. The taper of the walls 82 may be configured to work with thefunnel-shaped intermediate wall 25 of the body 20.

FIG. 3A depicts the body 20 without the plunger 70, so the storagecompartment 24 may be viewed. The body 20 includes an opening 21 at thetop for receiving the plunger 70. The opening 21 may be substantiallyround.

The inside facing surface 27 of the body 20 includes a longitudinalchannel 22 for guiding the plunger 70. A first indexing stop 90 may beannular, and inwardly protruding. The first indexing stop 90 may beconfigured to engage with the plunger cover 75. During assembly of thedispensing cap 10, the first indexing stop 90 may provide a positivereinforcement that the plunger cover 75 is in the proper position, anddoes not need to be pushed further into the body 20. The first indexingstop may also provide a safety, requiring more force to depress theplunger 70. In use, the plunger 70 is manually depressed to break thefloor 35 and dispense the supplement 50. It may be desirable to retainthe plunger in the depressed position, for example, so the plunger 70holds the floor 35 open, enabling fluid communication between the insideof the beverage container 65 and the storage compartment 24. The firstindexing stop 90 may engage with the top surface of the plunger cover75, and prevent the plunger 70 from backing out of the body 20. The usermay shake the beverage container 65 and dispensing cap 10, and thebeverage may wash the supplement out of the storage compartment 24. Thefirst indexing stop 90, shown in more detail in FIG. 3B, may include anengagement surface 92 which extends radially inwardly from the insidefacing surface 27 of the body 20. The engagement surface 92 may engagewith the plunger 70, and prevent the plunger from departing from thedepressed position. An upper surface 94 of the inwardly protruding stopmay taper outward, from the inside facing surface 27 to the insideperimeter of the engagement surface 92. Thus, the plunger 70 may movepast the first indexing stop 90 to the depressed position, but may notreturn to the original position.

Another embodiment of a first indexing stop 90′ is shown in FIG. 3C. Thefirst indexing stop 90′ may comprise an annular recess 91′ on the insidewall 27′ of the body, to mate with an annular protrusion 93′ of theplunger 70. It is also within the scope of the invention for the firstindexing stop 90, 90′ either in the form of a protrusion or a recess 91′in the inside wall 27, 27′ to not be annular, or extend all the wayaround the inside wall 27, 27′, but to be independently positioned onthe inside wall 27, 27′. A plurality of indexing stops, eachcircumferentially disposed at different locations about the inside wall,is also within the scope of the invention. In addition, a plurality ofindexing stops, positioned at different depths, are also within thescope of the invention. A plurality of stops, positioned at differentdepths, may enable multiple predetermined set points for the plunger 70.A second indexing stop may also prevent the plunger from traveling toofar within the body 20.

The inside facing surface 27 of the body 20 may include longitudinalchannels 22 for guiding the distal edges 82 of the piston 80, as shownin FIG. 3A. In use, force may be applied by a user to the cover 75 ofthe plunger 70, forcing the piston 80 to engage with and slide along thechannels 22 toward the floor 35 of the storage compartment 24. The floor35 of the storage compartment 24 may include a weakness, such that underthe force of the plunger 70, the piston 80 may pierce the floor 35. Thefloor 35 may open along the weakness, enabling the supplement to exitthe storage compartment 24 via the mounting structure 30 to mix with thebeverage. The weakness may comprise a scored or reduced thickness regionof the floor 35, as further described hereinbelow with respect to theembodiment shown in FIG. 6.

The piston 80 is depicted in FIG. 4. The piston 80 includes fourorthogonally disposed walls 82, however a piston 80 comprising a singleplanar body, as well as a piston comprising two, three, or more thanfour walls is also within the scope of the invention. The walls 82 mayinclude the distal edges 81 configured to engage with the channels 22 ofthe storage compartment 24. The walls 82 may taper at one end thereof toa point 84. The point 84 is positioned at one end of the piston at theintersection of the walls 82.

The piston 80 and the cover 75 of the plunger 70 may comprise discretecomponents as shown, however it is within the scope of the invention forthe plunger 70 to comprise a unitary body. The cover 75 may provide asurface for a user to engage and depress the plunger, and may alsoretain a supplement within the chamber.

FIG. 5 depicts the cover 75 of the plunger 70. The cover 75 may comprisea disc-shaped body 76 sized to fit within the inside facing surface 27of the body 20. The cover 75, the inside facing surface 27, theintermediate floor 25, and the floor 25 define the storage compartment24. An annular rim 77 may extend from the perimeter of the disc-shapedbody 76. Optionally, the cover 75 may include a central protrusion 78for engaging with the piston 80.

The body 20 and the plunger 70 may be formed of a polymer, for examplepolypropylene, polyvinyl or polyethylene. The body 20 and the plunger 70may be formed, for example, by a molding process such as injectionmolding, transfer molding, or compression molding. Subsequent to formingthe body 20, the piston 80 may be positioned within the body 20, and thestorage compartment 24 may be partially filled with the supplement 50.The cover 75 of the plunger 70 may then be positioned within body 20.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a second exemplary embodiment of a dispensing cap100 including aspects of the invention. As illustrated, the dispensingcap 100 includes a body 120 having a storage compartment 124 therein anda mounting structure 130, and a plunger 170. The storage compartment 124enables temporary storage of a supplement 50 for use in conjunction witha beverage 60. The supplement 50 may be in any form such as, forexample, a granule or powder, a tablet or pill, or a paste, liquid orsyrup. The supplement 50 may be applied to the beverage 60 as anadditive prior to the beverage being imbibed, such as with flavors,sweeteners or electrolytes. The plunger 170 may include a plunger cover175 and a piston 180.

The mounting structure 130 of the body 120 may be configured to matinglyengage with another container, for example a beverage bottle. Themounting structure 130 may include interior threads 134 on an insidesurface thereof, for matingly engaging with a beverage container havingexterior threads. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the mountingstructure 230 may have an inside surface which is substantially smooth,and be configured to rest over, or snap onto a container.

The body 120 of the dispensing cap 100 includes a wall 123. The insidefacing surface 127 of the wall, a floor 135 of the body 120, and theplunger cover 175 may define a storage compartment 124. The floor 135may include a weakness 26, pierceable by the plunger 170.

The weakness 26 may comprise two troughs in the material of the floor135, arranged in a cross-shape, or “+” shape. The trough depth may besufficient to enable to floor 135 to rupture at the weakness 26, yetprovide a fluid tight seal prior to the rupturing. Alternatively, theweakness 26 may comprise scoring along the desired breaking points. Theweakness 26 may be offset from the “+” shape of the piston 80. Thepiston 80 may contact the floor 35 at the point of intersection of the“+” and in locations between the weakness 26, and push the floor towardthe channel, severing the floor 35 along the weakness 26.

Channels 122 on the inside facing surface 127 of the body wall 123 maybe configured to engage with the distal edges of the piston 180. Thechannels 122 do not extend the entire length of the body 120, rather,the channels extend from the proximal edge of the mounting structure 130to the bottom of the distal edges of the piston 180. It is also withinthe scope of the invention for the channels 122 to extend to the openingof the body 120, as shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3A. Thechannels 122 may enable the piston to remain in the desired alignmentwith respect to the weakness 26 of the floor 135. The piston 180 may bealigned such that the four walls of the piston 180 are offset from thefour arms of the cross-shaped weakness 26.

The first indexing stop 190 on the inside facing surface of the bodywall 123 may be configured to engage with the plunger cover 175. Asecond indexing stop 195 on the inside facing surface of the body wall123 may be configured to engage with an upper surface of the piston 180when the piston 180 is depressed. The indexing stop 190 may prevent thepiston 180 from returning to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Theindexing stop 190 may be configured as a protruding structure, as shownin FIG. 3B, or a recessed structure, as shown in FIG. 3C. Alternatively,or in addition, the second indexing stop may be configured to engagewith the plunger cover 175, preventing the plunger cover 175 fromtraveling too far within the body 120 of the dispensing cap 170.

FIGS. 8 through 11 depict another exemplary embodiment of a dispensingcap 200 including aspects of the invention. As illustrated, thedispensing cap 200 includes a body 220 having a storage compartment 224therein and a mounting structure 230, and a plunger 270. The storagecompartment 224 enables temporary storage of a supplement 50 for use inconjunction with a beverage 60. The plunger 270 may include a plungercover 275 and a piston 280.

The mounting structure 230 may have an inside facing surface 232 whichmay be substantially smooth. The distal perimeter of the mountingstructure 230 may include annular engagement structures 234. Theengagement structures 234 may be configured to mate with the rim of abeverage container, for example to “snap-on” to a beverage container.

The wall 223 of the body 220 may increase in thickness at an annulartransition location 295. The increase in thickness of the wall 223reduces the inside diameter of the body 220. With the plunger 270 in adepressed position, as shown in FIG. 10, the plunger cover 275 may beprevented from traveling farther down the body 220 by reduction ininside diameter. Alternatively, a second indexing stop 295 may preventthe plunger cover 275 from traveling father down the body 220. A firstindexing stop 290 is also depicted in FIG. 10.

In use, the original cap of the beverage container 65 may be removed,and the dispensing cap 10, 100, 200 may be matingly engaged with thebeverage container 65. A user may press on the plunger cover 75, 175,275, in turn depressing the piston 80, 180, 280. The piston 80, 180, 280may break the floor 35, 135 of the storage compartment 24, 124, 224,enabling the supplement 50 to mix with the beverage 60. The piston 80,180, 280 may remain depressed, holding the floor 35, 135 open to allowthe supplement to completely mix with the beverage 60.

Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but merely asproviding illustrations of some embodiments of the invention. Similarly,other embodiments of the invention are contemplated and may be devisedthat do not depart from the spirit or scope of the invention. Featuresfrom different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope ofthe invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appendedclaims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoingdescription. All additions, deletions, and modifications to theinvention, as disclosed herein, which fall within the meaning and scopeof the claims, are to be embraced thereby.

1. A dispensing cap for a container with a top opening, the dispensingcap comprising: a body with a wall having an inside facing surface and afloor at least partially defining a chamber, the floor having at leastone weakness therein; a plunger disposed within the chamber and havingdistal edges in contact with the inside facing surface of the chamber;and a mounting structure separated from the chamber by the chamber floorand configured to engage with the top opening of the container.
 2. Thedispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a piston and acover.
 3. The dispensing cap of claim 2, wherein the inside facingsurface of the wall of the chamber includes channels configured toengage with the distal edges of the plunger.
 4. The dispensing cap ofclaim 2, wherein the cover of the plunger includes a central,substantially circular protrusion for engaging with the piston.
 5. Thedispensing cap of claim 2, wherein the cover of the plunger is removablefrom the chamber.
 6. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the weaknessof the floor comprises at least two intersecting lines of weakness. 7.The dispensing cap of claim 6, wherein the plunger includes a pistonhaving four orthogonally disposed walls.
 8. The dispensing cap of claim7, wherein the piston is disposed within the chamber such that the wallsof the plunger are offset from the at least two intersecting lines ofweakness.
 9. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the mountingstructure is configured to be disposed within the top opening of thecontainer.
 10. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the mountingstructure is configured to threadedly engage with the top opening of thecontainer.
 11. The dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein the chamberincludes an inwardly protruding stop.
 12. The dispensing cap of claim10, wherein the inwardly protruding stop is annular, and is configuredto engage with the plunger.
 13. A dispensing cap for a container with atop opening, the dispensing cap comprising: a body configured to engagewith the top opening of the container and having a wall with an insidefacing surface and a floor at least partially defining a chamber, thefloor having at least two intersecting lines of weakness therein; and aplunger disposed within the chamber.
 14. The dispensing cap of claim 13,wherein the plunger comprises a cover and a piston having fourorthogonally disposed walls.
 15. The dispensing cap of claim 14, whereinthe inside facing surface of the wall of the chamber includes channelsconfigured to engage with distal edges of the walls of the piston. 16.The dispensing cap of claim 14, wherein the piston is disposed withinthe chamber such that the walls of the plunger are offset from the atleast two intersecting lines of weakness.
 17. The dispensing cap ofclaim 13, wherein the chamber includes an inwardly protruding stop. 18.The dispensing cap of claim 17, wherein the inwardly protruding stop isannular, and is configured to engage with the plunger.
 19. A dispensingsystem, comprising: a container with a top opening; a dispensing capmounted on the container, the dispensing cap comprising: a body having awall with an inside facing surface and a floor at least partiallydefining a chamber, the floor having at least one weakness therein; aplunger disposed within the chamber and having distal edges in contactwith the inside facing surface of the wall of the chamber; and amounting structure separated from the chamber by the chamber floor andconfigured to engage with the top opening of the container; and asupplement disposed within the chamber of the dispensing cap.
 20. Thedispensing system of claim 19, wherein the inside facing surface of thewall of the chamber includes channels configured to engage with thedistal edges of the plunger.